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George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Brad Bird Set for Tribeca Film Festival Talks

Cary Fukunaga, Courtney Love, Gus Van Sant, Christiane Amanpour, David Gelb, Alex Gibney, Harvey Weinstein and Catherine Martin will also be in conversation throughout the fest.

Christopher Nolan, George Lucas, Cary Fukunaga and Brad Bird will be in conversation at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, it was announced Monday, as well as Christiane Amanpour, David Gelb, Alex Gibney, Harvey Weinstein, Catherine Martin, Billy Eichner and Katie Holmes.

The fest has also set advanced premieres and panels with Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer and Netflix's Chef's Table, as well as the world premieres of CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap and The Diplomat, and the New York premieres of Misery Loves Comedy and Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck — the latter of which is followed by a talk with director Brett Morgen and film subject Courtney Love.

Additionally, French artist JR's short film Les Bosquets will premiere, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s retrospective screening of Good Will Hunting will include a conversation with director Gus Van Sant and guests who will explore the making of the film, memories of the late Robin Williams, and the modern importance of its themes.

Plus, The Hollywood Reporter’sTatiana Siegel will moderate a free panel with independent producers — Foxcatcher's Anthony Bregman, Matthew Parker of Beasts of the Southern Wild and Alex Orlovsky of Blue Valentine — about how they overcame all of the logistical and financial obstacles associated with independent filmmaking in order to ensure their art remain authentic.

"Each year, the conversations we offer are among the Tribeca’s most anticipated and sought-after events and we’re proud of the participants we’re going to hear from this year," said Tribeca Enterprises executive vice president Paula Weinstein. "These panels offer unique insights into the filmmaking process and give audiences an opportunity to learn from industry leaders across a wide range of subjects and contribute to the conversation."

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, runs April 15 to 26.

George Lucas with Stephen ColbertGeorge Lucas discusses his career as a trailblazing innovator, as a screenwriter, director, and producer of films including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.DATE: Friday, April 17TIME: 4:00 p.m.LOCATION: BMCC

Christopher Nolan with Bennett Miller
As one of the most critically and commercially successful filmmakers of our time, Christopher Nolan will discuss his ability to push boundaries and create entire worlds and realities from his imagination.DATE: Monday, April 20TIME: 6:00 p.m.LOCATION: BMCC

Cary Fukunaga with James SchamusCary Fukunaga, the acclaimed director of Indie darling films such as Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre as well as recent TV hit “True Detective,” will discuss the success of his award-winning works for both the big screen and television.DATE: Thursday, April 23
TIME: 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Brad Bird with Janeane GarofaloBrad Bird has carved out a unique career in both animation and live action filmmaking. He will speak with Janeane Garofalo about what it’s like to transition between these two forms of storytelling, with hits like Ratatouille, Iron Giant, Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol and the upcoming Tomorrowland.DATE: Friday, April 24
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Very Semi-Serious
Directed by Leah Wolchok. (USA) – World Premiere. The New Yorker is the benchmark for the single-panel cartoon. This light-hearted and sometimes poignant look at the art and humor of the iconic drawings shows why they have inspired and even baffled us for decades. Very Semi-Serious is a window into the minds of cartooning legends and hopefuls, including editor Bob Mankoff, shedding light onto their how their humor evolves.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Leah Wolchok and cartoon editor of the New Yorker Bob Mankoff.DATE: Sunday, April 19TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: BMCC

CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap
Directed by Robin Hauser Reynolds. (USA) – World Premiere. CODE documentary exposes the dearth of American female and minority software engineers and explores the reasons for this gender gap. CODEraises the question: what would society gain from having more women and minority coders?After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Robin Hauser Reynolds, Qualcomm chief learning officer Tamar Elkeles, GoDaddy chief people officer Auguste Goldman, and Etsy engineering director for infrastructure Jason Wong.DATE: Sunday, April 19TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: Spring Studios

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Directed by Brett Morgen. (USA) – New York Premiere. Kurt Cobain, legendary lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of Nirvana, remains an icon 20 years after his death. This first-ever fully authorized documentary feature, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a raw and visceral journey through Cobain’s personal archive of art, music (both his most famous and some that’s never been heard), written word, and never-before-seen home movies, with animation and revelatory interviews from his family and closest confidantes. An HBO Documentary Film in association with Universal Pictures presentation.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Brett Morgen and film subject Courtney Love. Moderated by Rolling Stone contributing editor Neil Strauss.DATE: Sunday, April 19TIME: 7:00 p.m.LOCATION: Spring Studios

Misery Loves Comedy
Directed by Kevin Pollak. (USA) – New York Premiere. Kevin Pollak directs this insightful documentary that examines the quasi-obsessive need for a comic to connect with an audience. Conducting interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy including Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Larry David, and more, Pollak delves into the psyche to find out what led them to life in stand-up, and ruminates on whether you must be miserable to be a comedian. A Tribeca Film release.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Kevin Pollak and cast members.DATE: Wednesday, April 22TIME: 7:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Good Will Hunting
Acclaimed director Gus Van Sant brings Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Academy Award winning screenplay to life with the story of Will Hunting. Hunting is a 20-year-old math genius working as a janitor at MIT who is struggling with his past. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will’s last chance is a psychology professor (Robin Williams, who won an Academy Award for the role) who seems to be the only person who can reach him. Finally forced to deal with his past, Will discovers that the only one holding him back is himself.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Gus Van Sant and guests who will explore the making of the film, memories of the late Robin Williams, and science and the modern importance of its themes. Sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.DATE: Wednesday, April 22TIME: 3:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

The Diplomat
Directed by David Holbrooke. (USA) – World Premiere. With the insightful The Diplomat, David Holbrooke attempts the seemingly insurmountable: capturing the legacy of his larger-than-life father, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, revealing an inside view of US foreign policy from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Interviewing an impressive array of world leaders, David grapples with Holbrooke’s public versus private personas, creating a sensitive portrait of fatherhood, ambition, and the force required to affect change throughout the world. An HBO Documentary Film.After the movie: Stay for a conversation with director David Holbrooke, producer Stacey Reiss, CNN’sChristiane Amanpour, and New York Times columnist Roger Cohen.DATE: Thursday, April 23TIME: 6:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Chef’s Table
Creator by David Gelb. (USA) – World Premiere. TFF alumnus and director of the foodie doc Jiro Dreams of Sushi, David Gelb returns with his new documentary series “Chef’s Table,” which profiles chefs from around the world and offers a glimpse into their process. Join us for the series’ episode on Dan Barber, chef and co-owner of New York’s Blue Hill restaurant. A Netflix release.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with creator David Gelb, director Clay Jeter and Blue Hill chef Dan Barber.DATE: Saturday, April 25TIME: 5:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Les Bosquets
Based on the performance of the ballet Les Bosquets of NYCB inspired by the riots in France in 2005, Les Bosquets reveals JR’s experience in the ghetto of Montfermeil where he created Portrait of a Generation. He uses various means of expressions and narration, including video archives, choreography and testimony.After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with artist JR, dancer Lil Buck, and guests.DATE: Sunday, April 26TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Harvey Weinstein in Conversation
Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has created and shaped some of the most successful careers in Hollywood. From Tarantino to Sorvino, he is the man behind some of the greatest directors and faces on screen. Hear him discuss how he has crafted film and remained at the top of his game.DATE: Saturday, April 18TIME: 12:00 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

David Rockwell: How Does a Space Tell a Story?
Every nuance in a space tells a story and nobody knows this more than acclaimed architect and designer David Rockwell, who has designed such renowned spaces such as Nobu, NeueHouse and Edition Hotels in addition to his success as a Tony-Award nominated set designer. Rockwell will discuss how the design of a space can affect our experiences, mood and even the work we produce.DATE: Monday, April 20TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: Spring Studios

Immerse Yourself
From binging on reality TV to watching the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in a single sitting, today’s entertainment has become both physically and psychologically immersive. As the way we experience stories evolves into an ever-deepening relationship to characters and the plots of their lives, how does this affect the way storytellers are producing their work for us? Panelists include The Art of Immersion author Frank Rose, The Storytelling Animal author Jonathan Gottschall, and futurist and Shots of Awe creator Jason Silva. Moderated by journalist Jon Erlichman.DATE: Monday, April 20TIME: 4:00 p.m.LOCATION: Spring Studios

Secrecy & Power
If knowledge is power, then secrets are weapons. Secrets have always fueled great stories, but what happens when our secrets are breached in real life? From love affairs to national security, the information we hide defines our lives, but how can we keep them locked up in the age of the internet, clouds and hackers?Panelists include former spy Valerie Plame, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Bart Gellman, and We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks director Alex Gibney. Moderated by NBC News’ Cynthia McFadden.DATE: Tuesday, April 21TIME: 6:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Long Story Short
Short form content creators are taking us out of the cinema and to computers and tablets as they utilize digital platforms to engage with their audiences beyond their story and release work on their own terms. But how do you know what the right route for a short film or web series is and how do you seek out an audience in the online vortex of possibilities?
Panelists include Eternal Princess Director Katie Holmes, ESPN Films Director of Development Dan Silver, and High Maintenance creators Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, and “Billy on the Street” creator and star Billy Eichner. Moderated by ‘Screenwriting in 6 Seconds or Less’ Brian Koppelman.DATE: Wednesday, April 22TIME: 5:00 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Snap It, Vine It, Tube It
Storytelling on social media platforms has transformed what we consider to be content. Through Youtube, Snapchat and Vine content creators are breaking the mold of traditional storytelling and invigorating audiences as they turn themselves into a personal business. Panelists include Snapchat stars Jerome Jarre and Chris Carm, Youtube sensation Alphacat and The Gregory Brothers. Moderated by Maker Studios founder Lisa Donovan.DATE: Thursday, April 23TIME: 2:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

“Tribeca Talks: Master Class” (Free event)Adorama Rental Co. (ARC): The Producers
Independent producers are responsible for some of the greatest breakout hits in cinema history, have fought passionately for their art, and faced every logistical and financial challenge along the way. Cinematic mavericks divulge tales from the trenches and lessons they have learned along the way. Panelists include Foxcatcher producer Anthony Bregman, Beasts of the Southern Wild producer Matthew Parker and Blue Valentine producer Alex Orlovsky. Moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’sTatiana Siegel.DATE: Thursday, April 16TIME: 2:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Get the Look
The look of a film can propel the story and understanding of a film in both subtle and bold ways. Academy Award-winning production & costume designer of films such as The Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge,Catherine Martin discusses her methods for creating some of the most instantly recognizable visuals on screen as well as how she has propelled this into businesses beyond the screen. With Vogue’s International Editor-at-Large Hamish Bowles.DATE: Friday, April 17TIME: 2:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

CNN Films: Capture Reality
Nonfiction filmmaking has truly revolutionized itself in recent years through its visual language as it brings audiences stories which often seem too bizarre to be true. Leading documentary filmmakers expose how they choose their subjects and capture real life in new and innovative ways to shape the final story. Panelists include Bobby Fischer Against the World director Liz Garbus,Big Men Director Rachel Boynton, and God Loves Uganda director Roger Ross Williams. Moderated by film critic Eric Hynes.DATE: Monday, April 20TIME: 2:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Dolby Institute: The Sound of the Coens
From Fargo to The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, the sounds of Coen brother films are exhilarating, incorporating an array of music composition and inflections of sound to add to the all-encompassing world of their movies. Panelists include Composer Carter Burwell and Academy-Award Winning Sound Mixer Skip Lievsay, who will discuss the creative process behind their films as well as the collaborative relationship with Ethan & Joel which has endured and prospered across so many films. Moderated by Director of The Dolby InstituteGlenn Kiser.DATE: Tuesday, April 21TIME: 2:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

“Tribeca Talks: Script & Screen” (Free) Hosted by Barnes & NobleAct Your Age
From the malleable period in life called youth to grappling with growing older, age is a never-ending subject matter to explore within the plot of a film and one that we have been drawn to exploring and viewing for as long as cinema has been in our lives. But what is it about these transformative years that is so transfixing? Panelists include King Jack director Felix Thompson and Gored director Ido Mizrahy. Moderated by Variety’s Gordon Cox.DATE: Friday, April 17TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: Barnes & Noble, Union Square (33 East 17th Street)

The Beauty of Angst
Filmmakers have long delighted in exploring human angst on screen, and as an audience, we relish and revel in these stories. But what is the fine line of darkness that you can push boundaries towards before audiences turn away, and why are we so drawn to the anguish of others as an escape from reality? Panelists include Meadowland director Reed Morano, Thank You for Playing co-directors David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, and Necktie Youth director Sibs Shongwe-La Mer. Moderated by Indiewire’s Eric Kohn.DATE: Saturday, April 18TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: Barnes & Noble, Union Square (33 East 17thth Street)

This is the Real Life
Real life offers enough drama for the big screen, and writers and directors forever have been drawn to it. Through documentary and narrative form there are constant choices to be made in deciding which version of events to explore, and how to recreate moments from the immediate or far past for a present audience. Panelists include The Adderall Diaries director Pamela Romanowsky, As I Am: The Life and Times of DJ AM director Kevin Kerslake, Men Go to Battle director Zachary Treitz and The Wannabe director Nick Sandow. Moderated by The Verge’s Ross Miller.DATE: Sunday, April 19TIME: 1:00 p.m.LOCATION: Barnes & Noble, Union Square (33 East 17th Street)

Special “Tribeca Talks” Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival ConversationsThe Greatest Catch Ever
During Super Bowl XLII , the Giants met with the New England Patriots who were undefeated going into the NFL finale. With two minutes left in the game, just when it looked like Giants Quarterback Eli Manning would go down, he spotted David Tyree, a veteran special teams player, down the field and went deep, setting up one of the most renowned plays in football history. After the screening Spike Lee and David Tyree will discuss the play in question and sports fandom.DATE: Sunday, April 19TIME: 4:00 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1

Shock the World
Pro-wrestler turned politician Jesse Ventura garnered a crowd in the ring, and took this to the streets when he ran for Minnesota Governor in an unprecedented race with unpredictable results. After the screening ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight editor in chief and statistician Nate Silver will discuss what can be learned from the numbers of political history with regard to the 2016 election.DATE: Monday, April 20TIME: 7:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 2

Versus: Go, Sebastien, Go!Eva Longoria has teamed up with ESPN on a series of short films which explore moments in sports history which shine a light on personal perseverance, true grit and aspiration, as well as achievement outside of any sports arena. After the Movie:Versus series executive producer Eva Longoria and Versus director Retta (“Parks and Recreation”) will discuss sports and activism.DATE: Saturday, April 25TIME: 6:30 p.m.LOCATION: SVA Theater 1